Equinties - all change

Gm Equinauts

Let’s dive in.

HEADINE ROUND UP

ALL CHANGE

Nine days, just nine whole days after Ruby Walsh said COPACABANA was the leading Willie Mullins Champion Bumper horse, the boss of Closutton , Willie the Wizard, has unleashed a new beast entered for the champion flat contest and has gone favourite.

ALL CHANGE IN THE MARKETS!

That’s right, GAMEOFINCHES is the new Champion Bumper market leader after what he did at Punchestown yesterday.

He travelled easily through the race and even after Patrick Mullins took a pull around the bend, he sauntered clear with utmost ease suggesting he must have a fair bit of ability, but when horses win like that, it doesn’t really tell you much, right?

We have a few queries which will be of a different opinion to the Racing X hype merchants.

Firstly, he looks like a fine old beast. He doesn’t look like a rapid horse; he looks more like a proper National Hunt type who relished Punchestown in the soft conditions. How will that translate to a hectic Champion Bumper at Cheltenham? Unsure.

He’s going to the Champion Bumper, so this comment is pretty irrelevant, but would it not be better for the long-term to keep him at home? Making his debut on February 20th as a big horse before tackling Prestbury Park in a manic contest less than three weeks later looks like a steep ask – bit who are we to question the Wizard!?

Secondly, what might the form of the race be worth? BEGORRA MAN was beaten on debut in a maiden hurdle by KOPEK DES BORDES, ROJUCO MAC was making his debut, and CASTERLY ROCK couldn’t win a fairly easy bumper last time out. BEGORRA MAN objectively looks decent, but Gavin Cronwell starting him in a maiden hurdle at 66/1 on debut wouldn’t inspire confidence.

Thirdly, as his size suggests, his pedigree doesn’t scream bumper type. He is by monster NH sire BLUE BRESIL (think CONSTITUTION HILL) but his dam side suggests fences will see him in the best light. He is a half to THE KALOOKI KID for Nicky Richards who is currently 2 from 3 over the larger obstacles and another relation to note is Grade 2 winner VALIRAMIX, out of his third dam, who sadly died in 2002’s Champion Hurdle. In short, there is class in his pedigree and he’s certainly an exciting prospect for the future.

 Anyway, what does the trainer think of him?

GAMEOFINCHES has certainly caught the hearts and minds of many after yesterday. Ours? Not yet!

AN OPEN MARES’ HURDLE

Has anyone thought about the hypothetical world of a Mares’ Hurdle without LOSSIEMOUTH and BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD?

It seems like LOSSIEMOUTH is heading towards the Champion Hurdle and recent Betfair Exchange money (and chat from Gordo’s) might suggest BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD will clash with the geldings at the Festival.

So, if these two head to the Champion Hurdle, what does that do to the Mares’ Hurdle?

Well, JADE DE GRUGY won on her first start of the season yesterday in the Grade 3 Quevega Mares Hurdle, and she would be favourite if those two don’t head to the race.
Again, like our comments on GAMEOFFINCHES – nice horse, maybe a poor race?

LOT OF JOY failed to fire, GAOTH CHUIL needs three miles, and MOUSEY BROWN was 40/1. Still, she was good, but 5/2 from 5/1. Really?

We’re not going to look down on horses and not offer alternatives, so here are a few interesting ones for the Mares’ Hurdle now we know more about the field.

JETARA is one for Jessica Harrington if she comes over. She stepped up to three miles last month and beat KATEIRA at Doncaster in a set of first-time cheekpieces.

The runner-up finished fifth in the Long Walk and beat JANGO BAIE in a handicap last season, and the third, WYENOT, has GOLDEN ACE form from the Cheltenham April meeting.

Back in trip for the Mares’ Hurdle should suit nicely, and the first two home at Donny pulled well clear of the third. She has always been a nice horse, especially when looking at her second to BALLYBURN at Punchestown, and she is a big price.

JADE DE GRUGY may look like a nice contender in the Kenny Alexander silks, but what about KARGESE for the same connections?

We were taking it on trust that she was fully fit at Ascot last month, so finishing second to TAKE NO CHANCES can maybe be forgiven. Her SIR GINO, BOTTLER’SECRET, MAJBOROUGH, and STORM HEART form as a juvenile looks strong, and she’d have a chance if returning back to her best.

Few others appeal, though GOLDEN ACE wouldn’t be a bad shout if she can prove she stays. She tried the trip twice, she was beaten twice, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she won’t stay - there are plenty of legitimate excuses with mares and she could still land a blow this season in a Grade 1. She showed grit to win that Kingwell, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed.

So, if LOSSIE and BDA head to the Champion, never fear, the Mares’ Hurdle looks like a competitive affair.

15.00 LISTED 3M MARES’ CHASE

Two mid-week previews in two days? You’re lucky, Equinauts!

The Listed three-mile mares’ chase is a small-field contest, but cases can be made for a few in here.

DON’T RIGHTLY KNOW is the favourite and she is seemingly in some good form. She won a three-mile mares’ chase at Newbury last month when beating APPLE AWAY, and now she has a penalty for it.

She jumped for fun and she looked quite nice. Fair play to her, though she is rated 137, she’s a star for Grundy’s little yard.

Gavin Cromwell sends two and he has fun in these races all the time. LA MALMASON is the shorter-priced runner and Sean Bowen takes the ride.

She doesn’t have a penalty to shoulder, she’s a seven-year-old, and she’s trying three miles for the first time. All those things can work in her favour, and Cromwell thinks she “looks well in off her mark”.

She maybe doesn’t have the proven form in the book like some others have, however.
MALINA GIRL was poor on her seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse last month, but she was a top horse last season.

She was travelling very well in a Cheltenham handicap won by BROADWAY BOY before falling at a key moment, and she was second in this race last year. She opened the pipes lto and will come on for it fitness-wise.

ILOVETHENIGHTLIFE got a form boost on Wednesday as SACRE COEUR, a horse she beat in November, won a Ludlow handicap off 130. However, she was beaten at Warwick in Listed company two starts ago, and the form of that race isn’t working out amazingly.

LADY BALKO completes the field. She has no penalty, but she was well-beaten by DON’T RIGHTLY KNOW at Newbury and then she pulled up at Lingfield last month. She’ll need a form reversal here to win.

Verdict: A classic example of a race we steer clear from - girls in and out of form. The best mare in this could be Cromwell’s MALINA GIRL but she doesn’t seem right at the moment. The fave is Grundy’s DONT RIGHTLY KNOW - we were there when she bolted up at Newbury, she liked the ground then and she will like the ground today. No reason to take her on.

RISK ON

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BUMPER

EXETER

This could be a nice race with a couple of stand out pedigrees on show.

First up is Pauling’s UPTOWN DANDY who was the vote last time out but bumped into a new and improved recruit for Dan Skelton. This lad is a half to BILL JOYCE and is fancied by a yard who love mopping up these races.

THE BLUE ROOM ran respectably last time out at Aintree, hence second fave. His pedigree isn’t as strong as the fave, with no great siblings dam side but sire ORDER OF ST GEORGE can produce nice bumper winners.

Third fave WALK TALL is interesting. he is by super NH sire WALK IN THE PARK who is basically a bumper winner maker. This lad is out of a half to the brilliant multiple Grade 1 winning Champion Hurdler legend HURRICANE FLY! Big pedigree but there is reason to question whether HURRICANE FLY’s 2mile speed gene has missed WALK TALL given his mum was a 3mile plodder. With a more stamina focused page, he will keep galloping today but might not have the boot at the finish.

IT’S TOP is a nice type for Signy but will need to improve today and carries a pen. One for next season now.

IDAHO BRIDGE has a nice enough pedigree to track for later down the line.

Tizzard is double handed in this race with CLAIM THE THRONE. He will be a handicapped next season.

Of the rest, KING SACRE has a winning pedigree but the yard do not target bumpers and GIMARIAS is one to watch for later too.

Verdict: We think with a run under his belt UPTOWN DANDY should be hard to beat but if the race turns into an early relentless gallop then debutant WALK TALL could be the one to pummel them all into submission.

COMPETITION BET: we have stuck £100 on the UPTOWN DANDY and MAUGHREEN 10/1 double for a reader to win and excitedly wait on until the Festival should Pauling’s oblige!

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